Reading around the C Three Foundation forum "Options Save Lives" has made me realise that I am not actually an "early responder" but I am in the honeymoon phase.
From what I can understand, in the early stages the Naltrexone has the upper hand but after a couple of weeks, the brain will fight back wanting its fix and that's when I may see an increase in the cravings. I'm going to ride with it. Until then, I'll continue as I have been and won't force an alcohol free day because there's really no point until I experience the "fight for the fix". Then I'll know what I'm in for!
Here is information from C3 regarding the Honeymoon phase...
"It's like the term 'Quick Responders' or 'Early Responders'. This is something that we at C3 are working on clarifying for people. We have seen people on this forum notice an immediate reduction and call themselves a quick/early responder, without realising that they are not responding to the treatment of TSM because it doesn't work this fast, they are simply experiencing the initial first-drink blocking effects of the medication which the brain soon adjusts to - hence the honeymoon period. The curative treatment of TSM is something that happens over months, not days or weeks. Nearly everyone gets this honeymoon period and bringing their hopes up of a quick recovery by saying they must be an early responder can really set them up for disappointment when they find it was the initial medication effects and that is all.
I would personally call a Quick Responder as someone who reaches extinction well before the usual 6-8 month range that we find in real-life. If someone has their cravings extinguished at the 3 month mark, for example, then great! They were an early responder to naltrexone. If someone experiences a drastic reduction in the first couple of weeks, then this is more likely just to be an effect of the medication itself, rather than the curative result of it."
Yesterday I had my 3rd full dose of Naltrexone (no side effects) at 4pm. I made a drink around 5.45pm and it was just the same feeling...nothing but scotch and soda taste and no zing. I tried very hard to do mindful drinking in between preparing dinner. I wasn't triggered to drink unless I saw the glass on the kitchen counter but when I did, I made sure to stop what I was doing and focus solely on the sip of drink and on the lack of sensation it had.
When the drink was finished, I toyed briefly with pouring another but reminded myself how much better I'm feeling without more alcohol. I immediately poured a soda water with sugar free cordial so I could move on.
Removing the buzz is fascinating. Without it there and without its urge to have another, another, another...I can now feel the effects of the alcohol (and I'm not sure I particularly enjoy it). It makes me realise that my need for the buzz was overshadowing or disguising the actual effects of the alcohol.
From what I can understand, in the early stages the Naltrexone has the upper hand but after a couple of weeks, the brain will fight back wanting its fix and that's when I may see an increase in the cravings. I'm going to ride with it. Until then, I'll continue as I have been and won't force an alcohol free day because there's really no point until I experience the "fight for the fix". Then I'll know what I'm in for!
Here is information from C3 regarding the Honeymoon phase...
"It's like the term 'Quick Responders' or 'Early Responders'. This is something that we at C3 are working on clarifying for people. We have seen people on this forum notice an immediate reduction and call themselves a quick/early responder, without realising that they are not responding to the treatment of TSM because it doesn't work this fast, they are simply experiencing the initial first-drink blocking effects of the medication which the brain soon adjusts to - hence the honeymoon period. The curative treatment of TSM is something that happens over months, not days or weeks. Nearly everyone gets this honeymoon period and bringing their hopes up of a quick recovery by saying they must be an early responder can really set them up for disappointment when they find it was the initial medication effects and that is all.
I would personally call a Quick Responder as someone who reaches extinction well before the usual 6-8 month range that we find in real-life. If someone has their cravings extinguished at the 3 month mark, for example, then great! They were an early responder to naltrexone. If someone experiences a drastic reduction in the first couple of weeks, then this is more likely just to be an effect of the medication itself, rather than the curative result of it."
Yesterday I had my 3rd full dose of Naltrexone (no side effects) at 4pm. I made a drink around 5.45pm and it was just the same feeling...nothing but scotch and soda taste and no zing. I tried very hard to do mindful drinking in between preparing dinner. I wasn't triggered to drink unless I saw the glass on the kitchen counter but when I did, I made sure to stop what I was doing and focus solely on the sip of drink and on the lack of sensation it had.
When the drink was finished, I toyed briefly with pouring another but reminded myself how much better I'm feeling without more alcohol. I immediately poured a soda water with sugar free cordial so I could move on.
Removing the buzz is fascinating. Without it there and without its urge to have another, another, another...I can now feel the effects of the alcohol (and I'm not sure I particularly enjoy it). It makes me realise that my need for the buzz was overshadowing or disguising the actual effects of the alcohol.
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